2012 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards Recipients Announced

New York, February 1, 2012: ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams has announced the recipients of the 2012 ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Awards. The program, established in 2002, was created to encourage gifted jazz composers from throughout the United States. The recipients, who receive cash awards, range in age from 10 to 29, and are selected through a juried national competition.

Commenting on the awards, Paul Williams said, "The talented young composers we recognize through this program represent the future of jazz, America’s homegrown musical art form. We congratulate the recipients and extend thanks to the dedicated panel of ASCAP composers who selected the honorees."

The ASCAP composer/judges for the 2012 competition were: Ken Cicerale, John Fedchock and Rufus Reid.

The program is supported by The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund.

Bart Howard, a native of Burlington, Iowa, was a prolific composer who wrote over 200 songs, most notably the famous standard, “Fly Me To The Moon,” which has been performed by hundreds of singers including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson and Diana Krall. Howard began his career as an accompanist at the age of 16 and played for Mabel Mercer, Johnny Mathis and Eartha Kitt among others. He died in 2004.

About The ASCAP Foundation
Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States. www.ascapfoundation.org